We operated 34 of the 39 exploration wells, including 24 of the 27 discoveries. In addition, we operated nine exploration extensions, six of which resulted in discoveries.

The most important discoveries in 2008 were Dagny/Ermintrude (PL048/PL303) near Sleipner in the North Sea, which has opened a new oil play in a mature gas province, and Snefrid South and Haklang (PL218) near the Luva discovery in the Norwegian Sea that could provide the basis for new gas infrastructure.
 
The five wildcat exploration wells completed in the Barents Sea were all discoveries. Although the proven volumes in these wells have not met our most optimistic expectations, they have enhanced our understanding of the hydrocarbon potential in the area and will be important guides for our continued exploration activity in the Barents Sea. Nearly half of the discoveries proven in 2008 are located near existing infrastructure and are of small to medium size. These discoveries are critical to maximising the take-out in and around existing fields and most of them already have a planned tie-back solution.

The table below shows our exploration and development wells drilled on the NCS during the last three years.

Exploration and development wells drilled on the NCS	2008	2007	2006
North Sea
StatoilHydro operated exploratory	13	11	5
Successful	8	9	3
Dry	5	2	2
StatoilHydro operated development	75	87	53
Partner operated exploratory	4	0	2
Successful	2	0	0
Dry	2	0	2
Partner operated development	13	16	15
Norwegian Sea
StatoilHydro operated exploratory	14	6	5
Successful	11	3	2
Dry	3	3	3
StatoilHydro operated development	13	12	17
Partner operated exploratory	1	3	0
Successful	1	1	0
Dry	0	2	0
Partner operated development	3	2	2
Barents Sea
StatoilHydro operated exploratory	7	3	2
Successful	5	2	1
Dry	2	1	1
StatoilHydro operated development	0	0	2
Partner operated exploratory	0	1	4
Successful	0	1	2
Dry	0	0	2
Partner operated development	0	0	0
Totals
Exploratory	39	24	18
Successful	27	16	8
Dry	12	8	10
Development	104	117	89